Barcelona promotes campaign to help refugees

Barcelona, Sep 19 (IANS/EFE) FC Barcelona introduced a campaign to help refugees by raising money, increasing social awareness and supporting social integration of those forced to immigrate to Europe.

The campaign launched by Barcelona, on Friday, through its charity foundation and in collaboration with the Red Cross, aims to raise awareness among its members, using methods different from other clubs such as Real Madrid, which decided to donate a million euros ($1.1 million) for the refugees hosted by Spain.

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner said that it is an extended campaign which will represent a cooperation project with the Barca family.

The campaign "Tant se val d'on venim" (It does not matter where you came from) includes fundraising through auctioning first team player's shirts, online donations, as well as matches of the first and youth teams.

Stars of the first team will participate in awareness campaigns regarding the conditions of the refugees.

Cardoner pledged that all companies linked to Barcelona will join in, including Qatar Airways, the official sponsor of the team.

Cardoner opposed the allocation of financial aid to help the refugees, refusing to take a decision that may affect the club's monetary situation.

--IANS/EFE

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